Effects of the MV Rena oil spill on intertidal rocky reefs in the Bay of Plenty,New Zealand

In the weeks following the 2011 Rena oil spill, a series of surveys was initiated on eight rocky intertidal reefs to describe the distribution of oil and to assess the impacts of oil on ecological communities. Consistent but relatively low cover of oil occurred at two sites (Mt Maunganui and Moturiki). The area covered by oil had decreased by c. 90% after 5 months due to natural weathering processes. There were immediate effects of oil fouling on the mussel Limnoperna pulex and its associated fauna, with reductions in the number of mussels and infaunal taxonomic richness. However, no ecological effects on any of the communities were detectable after 1 month. Overall, the ecological effects of the Rena oil spill on rocky shore intertidal communities were small and not long-lasting, but we stress that this does not consider potential sublethal effects and their consequences on organisms.     

Measurement of Ambient,Interstitial, and Residual Aerosol Particles on a Mountaintop Site in Central Sweden using an Aerosol Mass Spectrometer and a CVI

The Aerodyne aerosol mass spectrometer (Q-AMS) was coupled with a counterflow virtual impactor (CVI) for the first time to measure cloud droplet residuals of warm tropospheric clouds on Mt. Åreskutan in central Sweden in July 2003. Operating the CVI in different operational modes generated mass concentration and species-resolved mass distribution data for non-refractory species of the ambient, interstitial, and residual aerosol. The ambient aerosol measurements revealed that the aerosol at the site was mainly influenced by long-range transport and regional photochemical generation of nitrate and organic aerosol components. Four different major air masses were identified for the time interval of the experiment. While two air masses that approached the site from northeastern Europe via Finland showed very similar aerosol composition, the other two air masses from polar regions and the British Islands had a significantly different composition. During cloud events the larger aerosol particles were found to be activated into cloud droplets. On a mass basis the activation cut-off diameter was approximately 150 nm for nitrate and organics dominated particles and 200 nm for sulfate dominated particles. Generally nitrate and organics were found to be activated into cloud droplets with higher efficiency than sulfate. While a significant fraction of the nitrate in ambient particles was organic nitrates or nitrogen-containing organic species, the nitrate found in the cloud droplet residuals was mainly ammonium nitrate. After passage of clouds the ambient aerosol size distribution had shifted to smaller particle sizes due to the predominantly activation of larger aerosol particles without a significant change in the relative composition of the ambient aerosol.     

A Spatial View of How United States Cesarean Section Rates Changed from 1990 to 2014

The overuse of cesarean sections (C-sections) in the United States is a contested issue. The rate of C-section births in 2015 at 32 percent was over double the World Health Organization recommendation of 10 to 15 percent. We employed spatial statistical methods and data visualization techniques to assess the temporal and spatial trends in C-section rates by county across the United States. Although the national rate of C-section remained stable at the beginning and end of this study period, an increase in rates from 1997 to 2009 was reflected simultaneously in national, state, and individual county rates. Local indicators of spatial dependence did not show spatial clustering as being connected to, or driving, the change, yet the visualization methods used here show details on individual county deviance from local temporal trends. By highlighting counties that do not follow the trends of their neighbors, we identify exceptional locations that could help further the study of the determinants of changing C-section rates in the United States. Key Words: cesarean sections, exploratory spatial data analysis, medical geography, spatial statistics.     

浙闽沿海晚中生代伸展构造的岩石学标志:东极岛镁铁质岩墙群

在浙江舟山群岛之东极岛上,出露大规模的镁铁质岩墙群,它们沿晚中生代花岗岩和火山碎屑岩的节理侵位,产状近于直立且与围岩截然接触,指示岩墙岩浆以主动方式沿构造裂隙侵入。东极岛镁铁质岩墙群的岩性主要是角闪辉绿岩,全岩Ar-Ar年龄为93.4Ma。在地球化学上,它们属弱碱性系列,SiO_2含量为46.88%～52.55%,CaO 5.40%～7.82%,Al_2O_316.30%～17.31%,TiO_2 1.53%～1.18%,(Na_2O+K_2O)4.62%～6.88%,Mg~#=34～42;具有轻稀土元素和大离子亲石元素(LILE,如Sr、K、Rb、Ba等)富集、高场强元素(HFSE,如Nb、Ta等)亏损等特点,它们的I_(Sr)为0.7084～0.7098,ε_(Nd)(t)为-3.21～-8.11,与福建沿海的镁铁质岩墙群及浙闽沿海晚中生代基性岩浆岩(辉长岩/辉绿岩和玄武岩)相似。它们由起源于受消减作用影响的岩石圈地幔部分熔融而产生并受地壳混染的玄武岩浆,在伸展构造环境中形成,是浙闽沿海晚中生代伸展构造的重要岩石学标志。     

PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH GENERAL MEETING HELD IN PEKING,JULY 25th. & 26th.,1924.

The eighth general meeting of the Geological Society of China was the first meeting in the year 1924, following the Annual Meeting. It was arranged in two evenings as follows.